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Getting Active - South Auckland Style

Patricia Harry certainly practices what she preaches. As a 30 year-old who weighed 120 kilograms, she decided she had to walk the talk if she was standing up in front of people teaching them how to live healthier lifestyles. Three years later, she tips the scales at 92 kilograms and is proud of her achievement.

"I remember presenting at a diabetes conference in Dunedin, and I had lost 10 kilos at that stage ..... the term 'practise what you preach' came to mind. I wanted to be a role model for my people and my [physical activity] groups."

So Patricia changed her eating habits and exercised more -- she walked in her lunch breaks and home from work -- and the weight came off. But Patricia didn't stop there -- she even learned to ride a bike so she could complete the Special K women's triathlon recently. "Four days before the race I learnt to balance and pedal the bike! With lots of fun, laughter and tears, I did it."

She was rapt with her placing of 4568th out of 5600 competitors, and her time of 2 hours and six minutes. Patricia got such a buzz from doing a triathlon that she has now set her sights on a half-marathon in June, and hopes her enthusiasm will rub off on those attending her physical activity classes.

She is an exercise instructor, community educator and data manager for the Otara-based Diabetes Projects Trust in Auckland, where she has worked for 13 years. The Trust runs five free exercise classes each week in community halls in Otara and Mangere. The programme is promoted by word of mouth, referrals and local diabetes clinics, GP practices, the Green Prescription and Getting Started programmes. The aim is preventing diabetes and getting people more active.

There are many barriers to doing exercise, Patricia says, including transport, cost, low self-esteem, cultural customs and traditions, lack of safety and language barriers. Diabetes Projects Trust tries to reduce these barriers and make their classes accessible by offering free transport to the classes; having drivers who speak Samoan and Tongan, while Patricia speaks Niuean; tailoring the music to each ethnic group; and offering low-impact options where people can walk or do the exercises while sitting in a chair. One participant is a kidney dialysis patient.

Culturally appropriate music is chosen and traditional movements -- such as the hula -- are incorporated. People are welcome to wear their traditional dress if it makes them feel more comfortable. A New Zealand-born Niuean-Tongan, Patricia has a first-hand understanding of the different customs and practices of various ethnic groups.

Health assessments are done on each participant, including weight, height, blood pressure checks and diabetes screening. This gives the instructors a good idea of what fitness level the participant is at and any major or minor health problems they may have.

Classes are open to anyone, although most participants are Pacific Island or Maori and aged 30 to 85. "The message is to listen to your body and do what you can do," says Patricia. "It's for all abilities, so we have chair exercises as well, and people with disabilities or even on crutches can join in."

Patricia admits her job has helped her personally: "It makes me put more fitness into my life." And she finds it hugely rewarding, particularly when she can see the progress other people make. "It's really cool because you can see the changes in people. One of the ladies with a walker is 70 and she just hops up into the van, whereas before I used to have to help her up. That shocked me!"

Healthy Eating - Healthy ActionOranga Kai - Oranga Pumau

Articles and news stories

Getting Active - South Auckland Style

Healthy Eating - Healthy Action
Oranga Kai - Oranga Pumau